Could you provide a brief journey of how you arrived where you are today?
I have 15 years experience in the financial services industry. Before joining FTSE, I worked at TradingScreen, a leading global provider of execution management systems as the global head of multi-asset class sales.
Previous to that I was the head of emerging market sales and European head of FX sales and liquidity at Bloomberg.
What does your role involve?
FTSE has been operating across the Middle East and Africa for some time, following its partnership with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2001 and NASDAQ Dubai (formerly DIFX) in 2005. As the managing director, I have to continue the innovation process by ensuring that FTSE provides the best products and services possible.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
Joining FTSE, a fantastic organization.
Which of your products/services deliver the best results?
FTSE sees strong demand for its customization services. This probably reflects the fact that businesses are focusing more on their core strengths and looking to outsource costs.
As a general theme, more mandates are being given to passive rather than active fund management. If pushed to name a single act, I would have to say listening to clients.
What are the strengths of your business?
FTSE is an index provider. The entire company is focused on providing investment professionals globally with the best index solutions. FTSE is independent, open, transparent and consistent in its actions.
What are the factors contributing to the success of your company?
An innovator in its field, FTSE interacts with the investment community to consult on the creation of new indices.
Advisory committees ensure that FTSE indices are fit for the purpose and represent the investable universe..
What are the obstacles faced in running your business today?
The current economic climate is unkind to almost all companies. There are fewer new mandates or ETFs being launched. Costs are an ongoing concern and this has led to a focus on passive rather than active management. Tracker funds have performed extremely well by comparison to active management and their associated fees.
Where do you see the Islamic finance industry in, say, the next five years?
It would be nice to see more institutional mandates rather than retail oriented products. There is certainly a place for better Shariah commodity indices and FTSE hopes to explore these possibilities further.
Name one thing you would like to see change in the world of Islamic finance.
I suppose the obvious comment from clients is a consistent application of Shariah principles across markets.
Perhaps this would encourage more institutional mandates.